Have you always admired a lovely garden but are not sure how to define your own style? Or, perhaps, you are even more concerned than ever about creating a landscape that responsibly responds to the challenges of climate change, water quality and invasive plants. Either way, you will be excited to learn of an upcoming program which will be just the thing for you!
The Eastern Shore of Virginia Master Gardeners (ESVMG) announces their second Garden Symposium which will offer lectures on a wide range of gardening topics by accomplished garden speakers.
The symposium will be held on Saturday, October 19, at the Cheriton Fire Station, 21334 Bayside Road. The daylong event begins at 8:00 am and includes five lectures, lunch and a lively raffle of local artisan items.
Lecture topics include “The Landscape Revolution: Foodscaping with Natives” and “The Landscape Revolution: Perennial Combinations” presented by Brie Arthur, a recognized speaker and passionate leader in the foodscape movement. Brie will discuss the thoughtful design and management of landscapes which address pressing environmental concerns. In this lecture, she will teach you how to create a purposeful outdoor space using a combination of native plants, her favorite perennials and seasonal food crops. These combinations are designed to create beauty, pollinator activity and yield – whether it be flowers or vegetables.
Hampton Roads’ own Marie Butler, former Landscape Coordinator at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, will speak on “Plant Selection for Design.” With her experience working alongside zoo animals, she will delight the listener with her descriptions of what giraffes have to say about site analysis, how peacocks add color to the landscape and much more.
Attendees will be excited to learn how to repurpose personal items to “Make Your Garden Your Own” and how to use “Foliage First” as the basis of garden design. These topics will be presented by Dan Benarcik, horticulturalist at Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, PA. Dan is also the Regional Director of the Garden Writer’s Association and is a recognized speaker in the Mid-Atlantic area. To make your garden your own, Dan will give you advice on using garden furniture as a design element and using ornamental containers and floral combinations to reflect your unique personality. In “Foliage First” he will describe how to create a strong foliar background that carries the garden during times when the flowering plants are at a minimum. Woody and herbaceous plants along with tropicals are discussed in this garden study.
Tickets are on sale now for $70 (increasing to $85 after September 15) and include lunch in addition to the sensational program. Drinks and snacks will also be available during breaks when there will be an opportunity to visit the raffle table and to browse the books available for purchase.
To read more about the upcoming event and download a registration form, go to www.esvmg.com. You can also contact ESVMG through email at esvmg@gmail.com for a registration form or call (757) 678-7946, ext. 29.
Reservations are limited to 100, so book yours soon!